NHS Leeds CCG Direct Access Non Obstetric Ultrasound (NOUS) Services

This ITT is for the provision of Direct Access Non-Obstetric Ultrasound Services (NOUS) across the city of Leeds that will improve access as part of the drive to reduce waiting times and improve choice for patients.

The overarching aims of the service are: - To ensure Patients receive the right test at the right time and in the most clinically appropriate local setting; - To ensure diagnostic testing is integrated across pathways of care, that the report and images follow the Patient and that there is no unnecessary duplication of investigation; - To enable Patients and referring clinicians to access a range of provision according to Patient choice, clinical need and relevant care pathway; and - To ensure diagnostic tests are appropriate, necessary, clinically correct, of high quality, with timely access and reporting. - Provide a local, direct access non-obstetric ultrasound service by staff qualified with appropriate levels of skill and experience. - Provide a patient centred, seamless service initiated by a simple referral route - Improve access to assessment, diagnostics, treatment and management of care. - Aid early diagnosis and avoid the need for unnecessary referral into secondary care. - Ensure diagnostic tests are appropriate, necessary, clinically correct, of high quality, with timely access and test results reporting and information provided to the referring clinician. - Enable patients and referring clinicians to access a choice of location. - Work collaboratively with all providers to ensure transfer of care protocols are continually developed and followed which ensure there are seamless pathways according to latest guidance. - Commissioners are not currently seeking to commission an urgent scanning service. However this may be considered as a service development during the course of this contract period, in discussion with the provider.

The service will provide capacity to enable Leeds GPs and community referrers to directly access Non Obstetric Ultrasound with a view to: - Supporting primary care to manage more patients outside of hospital with care closer to home; - Providing more information to primary care in their decisions to onward refer - Improving the availability of results in hospital clinics before first appointment to enable clinicians to make more decisions at the first appointment - shortening waiting times for appointments and reports - providing access to evening and weekend appointments

The service will deliver 23,000 contacts per year. The Contract intended to be offered to the successful Bidder at the end of this Procurement will be for a duration of 3 years, which is intended to run from 01/07/2020 until 30/06/2023 with the option to extend for up to 2 years, subject to review and agreement between the commissioner and service provider and subject to any restrictions placed nationally by NHS England or the Department of Health.

Additional information: ITT documents can be downloaded by registering an interest in this opportunity on the NHS Sourcing portal below.